Introducing MedWay: Why is independent practice important to health care?

Independent physicians are the backbone of the health care system. But without a strong backbone, the system will not stand. MedWay CEO David Forde explains why independent practice is vital for the business and the patient treatment of health care.

Medical Economics: MedWay's website declares independent physicians as the backbone of our health care system. Can you explain why it's so important to have independent physicians as part of the health care environment, both medically and from a business standpoint?

David Ford: I think that medically, you know, from sort of the health care perspective, the patient outcomes from independent physicians are incredibly good. We know that independent physicians are more likely to work in underserved areas, to treat underserved populations. And they are incredibly good at building that really personal connection with their patients that is so important for so many people to have favorable health outcomes. From a business perspective, one, just from capacity perspective, you know, we have a shortage in this country. We need as many physicians in sort of all different practices as we can but I think it is especially important to have those independent physicians because they serve those populations that sometimes others don't want to touch. Especially in California, independent physicians tend to be very diverse. We have a pretty fair number of women independent physicians who have that connection to these communities, and provide them really good care and really favorable outcomes.